Daily Current Affairs for Competitive Examinations: March 24, 2023
Keeping abreast with the daily news, be it national or international, impacts the exam’s final outcome. Reading the newspapers and keeping an eye on the trending news will cover the preparation of current affairs.
We have curated a list of plausible content that covers the portion of Current Affairs in major government exams. Our in-house academicians analysed leading newspapers like The Hindu, The Business Standards, and The Indian Express to collate the latest questions and answers for all the government exam aspirants of this year.
Current Affairs: National Interest
Shaheed Diwas or Martyrs’ Day 2023
Shaheed Diwas, or Martyrs’ Day, is observed in India on the 23rd of March every year to pay homage to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for thedom of India. This day marks the anniversary of the execution of three Indiandom fighters- Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar, and Shivaram Rajguru in 1931.
In an attempt to seek revenge for Lala Lajpat Rai’s death, Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev planned to attack the Central Legislative Assembly and prevent the passing of the Public Safety Bill and the Trade Dispute Act.
On 8 April 1929, they tried to bomb the Central Legislative Assembly but were caught. As a result, all three were sentenced to death. On 23 March 1931, they were executed at the age of 23, 24, and 22, respectively.
Notably, Martyrs’ Day is also observed in India on 30 January to pay respect to Mahatma Gandhi ji. On 30 January 1948, Gandhi was assassinated by Nathuram Godse in the compound of Birla House.
Question 1:
Which day is observed as Martyrs’ Day every year?
(A) 23rd March
(B) 30th March
(C) 22nd March
(D) 24th March
Answer: A
Check out the Highlights of the Economic Survey 2022-23 by clicking on the link given below: Economic Survey 2022-23
Current Affairs: Environment
World Water Day 2023
Wednesday, 22 March 2023, was observed as World Water Day. The purpose of World Water Day, which was first commemorated in 1993, was “to raise awareness and motivate action to address the water and sanitation crisis”.
The theme for World Water Day in 2023 is “accelerate reform to end the water and sanitation crisis”.
Facts:
About 2.5% of the water on the surface of the Earth is fresh and appropriate for human use.
The natural recycling mechanism ensures that the amount of freshwater on Earth remains constant. Still, rising demand for clean water and population growth are emerging as significant threats to the conservation of freshwater.
Using water inefficiently can have huge effects on future generations.
The United Nations (UN) observes World Water Day in conjunction with UN Water. The United Nations also released a World Water Development Report.
Question 2:
What is the theme of World Water Day in 2023?
(A) Groundwater: Making the Invisible Visible
(B) Valuing Water
(C) Accelerate reform to end the water and sanitation crisis
(D) Water and Climate Change
Answer: C
Current Affairs: Defence
Indian navy to conduct the ‘sam no varunah’ coastal car rally
The Indian Navy, in association with Navy Welfare and Wellness Association (NWWA), is embarking on a maritime awareness coastal motor car expedition called “SAM NO VARUNAH”.
The SAM NO VARUNAH expedition is a unique initiative by the Indian Navy to promote sea consciousness and create awareness about the nation’s rich maritime heritage.
The rally will cover the entire Indian coastline and promote career opportunities in the Navy, community development, and environmental awareness.
The participation of serving women officers and naval wives will showcase the strength of women in the armed forces.
The rally promotes sea consciousness and celebrates the nation’s rich maritime heritage. The expedition will cover the entire Indian coastline, which is more than the length of land borders India shares with China and Pakistan combined.
Current Affairs: International
Uganda passes a law making it a crime to identify as LGBTQ
Uganda’s parliament recently passed a law making it a crime to identify as LGBTQ, handing authorities broad powers to target gay Ugandans, who already face legal discrimination and mob violence.
More than 30 African countries, including Uganda, already ban same-sex relationships. The new law appears to be the first to outlaw merely identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ), according to the rights group Human Rights Watch.
Violations under the law draw severe penalties, including death for so-called aggravated homosexuality and life in prison for gay sex. Aggravated homosexuality involves gay sex with people under the age of 18 or when the perpetrator is HIV positive, among other categories, according to the law.
Sixty-nine countries have laws that criminalise homosexuality, and nearly half of these are in
Some of the examples are:
Southern and east Africa, the Middle East and south Asia persist with the most draconian approaches. Western Europe and the western hemisphere are the most tolerant.
In Iran, Sudan, Saudi Arabia and Yemen, homosexuality is still punishable by death under sharia law.
The same applies in parts of Somalia and northern Nigeria. In two other countries – Syria and Iraq – the death penalty is carried out by non-state actors, including Islamic State.
Question 3:
Which country recently passed a law making it a crime to identify as LGBTQ?
(A) Ethiopia
(B) Uganda
(C) Namibia
(D) Zimbabwe
Answer: B
Current Affairs: National Interest
Chhattisgarh passes Bill for protection of media persons
Recently, the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly enacted the “Chhattisgarh Mediapersons Protection Bill 2023”, which aims to safeguard journalists and prevent violence against them.
The measure was introduced for debate in the House by Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, who described the occasion as “historic”.
Prior to the 2018 Chhattisgarh assembly elections, Congress promised in its manifesto to pass a law protecting journalists in the state.
Aim:
To prevent violence against journalists, performing duties in Chhattisgarh.
To protect the property of journalists and media institutions.
To avoid acts of violence that endanger the lives of journalists and damage and destroy the property of journalists and media institutions.
If a private individual is responsible for assault, harassment, or intimidation against a journalist, the committee, after considering the case and hearing both parties, can impose a ₹25,000 fine on the offender.
Question 4:
Which states recently passed a bill for the protection of media personnel?
(A) Rajasthan
(B) Chhattisgarh
(C) Madhya Pradesh
(D) Haryana
Answer: B
Current Affairs: Defence
Africa-India field training exercise, ‘AFINDEX-23’ begins in Pune, India
The 10-day Africa-India Field Training Exercise (AFINDEX 2023) began in Pune, India, recently to strengthen the military ties between the countries. The exercise will be held till 30 March 2023.
The theme of the exercise is “humanitarian mine action and peacekeeping operations”.
The primary focus of the joint exercise will be on tactical drills, procedures and the ability to operate jointly with seamless interoperability.
The exercise will promote the idea of Africa-India Militaries for Regional Unity (AMRUT).
The exercise is also considered an essential element of India’s diplomatic ties with African countries.
Question 5:
The field training exercise “AFINDEX-2023” between India and 23 African countries is being organised in which city?
(A) Nagpur
(B) Pune
(C) Mumbai
(D) Delhi
Answer: B
Check out the Highlights of Union Budget 2023 by clicking on the link given below: Union Budget 2023-24
Factbook: 23-March-2023
Swiss Open badminton tournament
The 2023 Swiss Open badminton tournament started in Basel, Switzerland on 21st March 2023.
The tournament will be played till the 26th of this month.
Some of the best players in the world, like Victor Axelsen, Lee Zii Jia, Wang Zhiyi, and Carolina Marin, will be competing in the tournament.
India will be represented by stars like P.V. Sindhu, Prannoy HS, Lakshya Sen, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty.
The Swiss Open was first held in 1955 and is one of the oldest badminton tournaments. So far, 59 editions of the tournament have been held. The 2023 Swiss Open is going to be the 60th edition of the tournament.
The Swiss Open is currently sponsored by Yonex, and the tournament’s total prize pool is $210,000.
Saina Nehwal became the first Indian to win the Swiss Open.
She won the Women’s Singles in 2011.
Srikanth Kidambi became the first Indian man to win the Swiss Open when he won the Men’s Singles in 2015.
P.V. Sindhu won the women’s singles in 2022 and came into the 2023 Swiss Open as a defending champion.
Actor Ranveer Singh dethrones Virat Kohli as India’s most valued celebrity of 2022
Actor Ranveer Singh is India’s most valued celebrity of 2022, according to a report by corporate investigation and risk consulting firm Kroll.
With a brand value of $181.7 million, Singh has dethroned cricketer Virat Kohli, who occupied the top spot for five years, according to the report titled “Celebrity Brand Valuation Report 2022: Beyond the Mainstream”.
Kohli fell to the second spot with a brand value of $176.9 million.
Actor Akshay Kumar remained in third position with a brand value of $153.6 million.
With a valuation of $102.9 million, actress Alia Bhatt also retained the fourth spot and the title of the most valued female celebrity.
Deepika Padukone’s brand valuation of $82.9 million earned her the fifth spot.
Former cricketer MS Dhoni occupied the sixth spot on the list with a brand value of over $80 million.
Amitabh Bachchan, Hrithik Roshan and Shah Rukh Khan were other big names from the film industry that made it to the top 10 list of most valued celebrities.
Nepal’s Aasif Sheikh wins CMJ Spirit of Cricket award
Nepal wicketkeeper Aasif Sheikh has won the 2022 Christopher Martin-Jenkins Spirit of Cricket Award for his act of sportsmanship in a T20 international.
Sheikh was awarded for his sportsmanship shown in the men’s T20 International between Nepal and Ireland in February 2022.
Sheikh was also honoured with the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award in January 2022 for his work.
The Spirit of Cricket Award was created in 2013 by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and the BBC in memory of former MCC president and BBC Test Match Special commentator Christopher Martin-Jenkins (CMJ), who was passionate about promoting the spirit of the game.
For the first time in its history, MCC and BBC invited public nominations for the award in December 2022, and Sheikh’s conduct for Nepal was judged to be the winning entry.
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